It's Okay To Ask For Help #LoveBlog

Hello my dears,

I hope you had a lovely valentine's/galentine's/palentine's/etc day/weekend and are ready to face the week, Monday is here, eek!

Today's post is on counseling in relationships and such.


I used to think I didn't need counseling, that that was for people who cheated or had step children, or I don't even know. If I thought that then it must've been a long time ago, because ever since Michael and I started talking about marriage I knew that pre-marital counseling was something I would be on board with.


I used to think we should seek out a church or counseling center for pre-marital counseling separate from the pastor marrying us, but we ended up only seeing our pastor for a few meetings before we got married. But it was awesome!


Now, it helps that our pastor was super chill and fantastic and real. He wanted to make our ceremony what we wanted it to be, and give the glory to God in the process. He also wanted to help us know how to live together as husband and wife and work together in the best way possible.

He was the one who gave us the couples' edition of The Five Love Languages and had us take the tests in it (even though we had taken the singles edition test years before). Our results didn't vary too much, just that the priorities are different when you are asked questions about your significant other as opposed to questions about a theoretical person you may encounter. Our pastor helped us analyze our results really deeply (but simply as well) to make sure we understood what the other person needed from us.  For example, one of Michael's top love languages is acts of service; it fills his love tank when I do something to take care of our home or get groceries, etc.

One of my top love languages is words of affirmation; I need to be told very often how he feels about me and why I am not a failure (does anyone else feel like that?). I *know* he loves me, or else he wouldn't have married me, but the way my brain works I need to hear it or see it written pretty frequently to make sure I'm still doing okay in the wife department.


Seeing a pastor before we got married also helped us make sure all our ducks were in a row for wedding day (details, details, DETAILS) and helped us stay calm whenever mini emergencies happened.


I highly HIGHLY recommend pre-marital counseling. We had lived together before we got married (in a PG way, promise!) and still had things to learn about each other. There's still tons more to learn, I know it, but the counseling helped us prepare for the journey we have ahead. We may even have more casual counseling meetings with our pastor just because we love him THAT much! Plus, it's an excuse to go get coffee ;)

How BA and epic does he look? It's like "let's get this wedding taken care of" to me ;) 

xoxo,

Alexandra Anne

Meet your hosts!

Meet Alexandra Anne: wife, gamer, fitness lover, opera-singer, fur mommy, writer, dreamer. Addicted to mugs, music, and finding passion in life. 

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Meet Brita Long: Christian feminist blissfully married to Dan Fleck for almost two years. Lover of Paris, pink sparkles, sensible shoes, manicures, and books. Fueled by hot tea and mimosas.

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Meet Alex: Twenty-something southern wife living in the Atlanta suburbs. Lover of Pure Barre, animals, traveling, wine, eating (a lot), music, and dance parties!

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An InLinkz Link-up

Hoorah!! #LoveBlog

TGIF! Does anyone else feel a huge sigh of relief when Friday gets here? It's especially awesome when it's a Friday off and you get a three day weekend, (which is what I get since I still have class Monday...oh well!)


Today I will be drifting a bit from the #LoveBlog topic for the day because...we just got our wedding pictures! I am very distracted by them, and am also trying to prep for our camping trip tonight/tomorrow for Valentine weekend.


So I will leave you with a few of my favorite wedding pics, and the website of the lovely photographer who took them! We've been so excited to get these!!


I promise to write more tomorrow ;)



xoxo,
Alexandra Anne

all pictures by Margaret Marie Brewer photography http://margaretbrewer2015.wix.com/margaretmariephotos

National Marriage Week #LoveBlog

Phew! What a crazy weekend! I had a recital, a quiz, a newlywed bridal shower, and drove up and down the state all within three days, eek! But I'm back to my laptop now, on my comfy couch drinking some pinot grigio (a la Ramona Singer, because let's face it, we all wish we could get away with being THAT blunt) and I'm ready to write my heart away :)



Today's topic is on MARRIAGE, because it is national marriage week, how cool??!? I'm pretty excited just because I am currently LOVING my new marriage (we hit four weeks on Saturday, seriously brand new) and can't wait to celebrate Valentine's weekend with my hubby.


I have my sarcastic moments and views of cynicism on life sometimes, but I have pretty much always been a fan of marriage. There was only one point in my life where I had a big pout and thought I would never have kids and probably never marry (it was a stupid bad breakup in high school, I was 17, so obviously the world was going to end). But a few months after that icky situation, Mister Right popped into my life, or back into rather. I had never been close to him, I just knew he existed from our circle of mutual friends and we hung out in group settings as acquaintances (we actually have a picture of the night we met!).

I was 14, he was 16, four years later we would become a couple! 

So, I hadn't talked to this guy in a year, and all of a sudden he messaged me on facebook. Behold, facebook has done something GOOD, because four years later we are husband and wife and falling more in love every single day :) We started dating a little bit after that facebook conversation and have been together ever since.


I am actually planning a post on how to get a husband, a sort of satire if you will, because many things in our relationship have not been conventional or the social norm, and that's kind of awesome to me. But for today's late post I will give y'all an idea of what my relationship has taught me, and what the beginnings of our marriage has taught me


*I don't believe in love at first sight. I believe in lust at first sight, but there is NO way you can know the important things about a person just by looking at them. Yes, you can gather some ideas based on inferring data, but I believe that you need to spend time with a person in all sorts of situations to know whether or not you love them or are in love with them.

*There is no actual schedule for love. This slightly contradicts the above point, but I think every relationship is different. I knew I loved Michael within just a few months, but I also knew that we had a long way to go before we could plan our lives together. We were just teens when we started dating, and I was in high school! But we knew very quickly that we were in love, and that love only grew deeper and truer as time grew on.

*Kissing isn't like the movies. First off, bodies are gross. Secondly, in movies they aren't really kissing, it's more like a mushing of upper lips together with a combo of some movement of faces from side to side.


*Long distance is completely doable- and anyone who says "the distance is just too hard" makes me reallllllly frustrated. If both parties are honest and loyal then long distance is definitely attainable. It is NOT easy and I know it's not for everyone, but if we can do it, so can you. (I also know we are super blessed to be able to visit each other frequently, even when we lived 12 hours apart we never have gone more than 45 days apart from each other, now it's more like we can't go 5 days apart!). Skype is a huge blessing, and so is unlimited text/calling. He didn't text when we first went out, and we couldn't have free phonecalls til 9pm, haha those days feel so long ago now!


*Living with a man is an adjustment, but it totally works when you are best friends. We work so well together in every situation, it made sense that we have adjusted to living together pretty well. There are learning curves occasionally, but we love to serve each other, so we are usually happy to take care of something around the apartment when the other person asks. It's the little things that make a great marriage. Also, waking up to cuddles with your best friend is so wonderful. I wish I could do that every day (I will after this semester, I just have to live alone during the week, but weekends are wonderful). Oh, and having a pet helps encourage more cuddles too! Our cat brings us together and brings us so much joy, and is way easier than having a human child which we won't be ready for for many years to come.


*It takes two to tango- If one person isn't fully committed to the relationship, it won't work. Hands down. You can try and try, and it just won't change, not long term anyway. I am so lucky that God put the right man in my life at the right time. I didn't think I would ever be with anyone ever again (dramatic, right? Ah, to be 17 again, let's not do that, okay? Okay). But Michael walked in and completely won me over and it all has been so natural and at the end of the day it isn't hard for me to love him.

what i'm listening to (this week)

Hello friends!
I'm sorry I haven't posted, I've been having laptop issues (gross, right?) But I wanted to share with you some music I LOVE right now and think you may love too!


 


At some point I'm gonna post about the video games I beat in 2015 and how they affected me, but for now i'm just obsessed with all the music from the Fallout series! Thank goodness Spotify playlists exist so I don't have to search for all the music!! (Also I'm obsessed with spotify premium, they have no idea i'm writing this so this isn't sponsored in anyway, but yeah, it's just FANTASTIC)

I highly recommend the Fallout playlist, because it's classy as ${!%  (hehe)


Another one I titled "Therapy" because it helps me get through the hard times and just calms my soul when I'm anxious or hurt.







My tagline right now is "Fitness Opera Gamer Gal" so of course I have a workout playlist and a Nerd playlist (several songs overlap between the two). I like to nerd out when I work out ;)







And last, but not least, I'm gonna share the wedding day playlist I listened to while getting ready in the hotel and bridal suite on my wedding day :) (Would ya'll be interested in hearing wedding stories? I've got a few! It was only two weeks ago so I am still processing it all, but I have several fresh stories!)





Feel free to follow me or send me your favorite playlists! I have so many more, I could give you music for days ;) I feel like looking at someone's playlist can tell you a lot about that person. I'd love to get to know you via music!


Have a great week, and may your days be musical forever :)

xoxo,
Alexandra Anne

Get Up and Go

Happy 2016!

It's a new year and so much has already happened, it's unbelievable.

I got married last week, eee! Pictures and posts to come, I'm still processing that it really happened ;)

I started my second semester of senior year of college]

I've started rehearsals for my last college opera, Cosi Fan Tutte

This weekend we will be having a reception party for friends who didn't come to the wedding itself because we had an intimate private ceremony with our closest family and friends. Much cake and champagne will be had!



So because I'm married and in school, we are actually doing long distance marriage during the week and can only see each other weekends, and sometimes not every weekend.

Sounds awful, right? But we are doing decently, we have much experience with distance and used to be even farther apart.

But it means that when I started classes this week I had to say goodbye to my husband and drive two hours away and be strong. I didn't want to go, and part of me wanted to drop out of school entirely (am I dramatic or what?). But you know what? I got up and went. I put my big-girl panties on and conquered the day.

It isn't easy, and I will never claim to be an expert or to be ok with my situation all the time. But I am loyal to my husband and our commitment gets us through anything life may throw at us.


I can't wait to see what other adventures this journey of marriage brings us, because I am sharing my life now with my favorite person in the world. No power in the 'verse can stop us.

xoxo,

Alexandra Anne 

Tea, VEDA, and Historicon

Hello internet readers!!

Did you know I'm posting regularly on YouTube this month? You didn't? Well, I am! I'm partaking in a challenge/thing called VEDA- Vlog Every Day in August :)

You can stalk find me here! 




It's been fun so far, tomorrow I'm gonna start using Windows Movie Maker (finally) and try to edit my vids a little better! I'm learning. If all else fails, my iPhone take decent quality footage. I just stink at trying to get all my thoughts out coherently in one take. Eek.

I'm hoping that after August I will still vlog regularly about my fitness journey, my wedding planning, and the life I live as a vocal performance major in a small college town in Alabama :) Oh, and my gaming stuff! Duh! I still owe ya'll a picture dump.

Wanna stalk me some more? Check out THIS post written by professionals on the internet who also included me in their live podcast at said event, that event being Historicon :) I love WWPD so much, they are great guys, their podcast is awesome, and I'm honored to ever be mentioned by them.

Michael and I on the ends, WWPD in between :) 

There was much gaming, much booze, and much fun had at this convention. Next year when Michael and I attend we will be MARRIED. WHAT. 5 months left, folks. I'm excited. 

But yeah. 

Here are my some of my historicon pics!

About to head out to Virginia for HISTORICON 2015!

Right after someone recognized me from twitter! Represent girl gamers, ya''ll!

Did I mention lots of booze? Yeah, it was nice.

Vikings!!

Our army for the Flames of War doubles Tournament :) Germans!

Painted me a halfling mini :)

Overall, it was a great trip and I'm ready for Historicon 2016 already. 

For now, I'm serving tea at farmer's markets to local Alabama tea lovers and preparing to move into my own apartment for the upcoming semester (eek! no roommates!)

Our tea is local tea that comes in mason jars, super cute and super yummy

So that's me, follow me on the YouTube for daily updates this month! 

xoxo,

Allie Anne 

Do You Even Lift?

Lifting is hard, yo.

But SO invigorating!!! I am loving my exercise recently and how strong I am becoming. My manager at work even complimented how my leg work was good while lifting enormous buckets of water and then lowering them (total body worked, more calories burned!)

I'm working hard to save for school stuff/apartment stuff/book stuff (hehe)/ and a fitbit charge hr! I'm glad I got more shifts this week because this once a week stuff is silly. I go back to school next month so I won't have TIME for more shifts, so I need to work as much as possible now while it can be my biggest priority. That and the working out.

Last post I may have mentioned I want to vlog soon? I just signed up for VEDA (Vlog Every Day In August) and this year I'm determined to stick through it!!


Check here for updates, and right now a video of me doing some singin' in recital class at school (yay Italian arias full of passion, am I right?)






I will have to teach myself to talk to the camera on a regular basis, good thing I don't have roommates to judge me. I can't wait to learn the youtube world and world of vlogging!!!


Who is going to Dragon Con?? I'm a few paychecks away from being able to buy my fitbit AND by my con ticket! (I already have a room set up, so that's good, and it's affordable, also good!)

Still need to figure out how to cosplay and who to cosplay as...



As for fitness, since that's the main subject of the post, I am starting a challenge group on August 1st!!! I'm so excited! We are all going to do 21 Day Fix together and be AWESOME. We will also drink Shakeology every day and share yummy recipes for it. I think I want to try baking shakeology brownies ;)

Are you interested in joining the challenge group?? You must!! You won't regret it :)

Comment below or contact me (check out the contact page!) for more info! 

I love ya'll, thanks for reading <3 I'll have more interesting things to say later this week. Right now I'm exhausted from working 11hours yesterday (4am to 3pm) and then immediately going to a wedding after and then dancing a lot a lot at said wedding. I am good and sore! My creative writing will be better with more sleep, I promise ;) 

Have a great week!

xoxo, Alexandra Anne

#committedtothesexy

I've never done a post with a hashtag in the title, but I want this to be my focus.

When I got engaged on February 28th, I knew that I had a reason (officially) to push myself to be the best version of myself I can be. It's not just about me anymore, I am going to marry my best friend and commit my life to him. He deserves the best Alexandra Anne there can be. So we came up with a phrase to get us through the health journey we are both taking; we are #committedtothesexy.

Every workout, every veggie-packed meal, every sore muscle, it's all worth it for us. We are committed to making healthier choices.

Now that we are setting a date for a January wedding (YAY!) that gives me about six months to get healthy and get sexy for that wedding dress. I want to be a beautiful bride, and a hot wife.

Longterm, however, I want to be healthy and happy. I want to feel strong and capable of anything. Feeling sluggish SUCKS. Having clothes not fit SUCKS. You know what doesn't suck? Endorphins, yo. I'm serious, the high I get post-workout is fantastic and keeps me coming back.

I'm NOT a morning person, and I'm not a person who gets excited about going to the gym. But I'm working on both of those. I am excited about the sexy wife I'm going to be :)

It's ok if I have a bad day, we are all human. I want to document this journey in my life, my fitness journey. I am committed.

Are you?

-----


*This month I am utilizing the awesome program from Beachbody called 21 Day Fix, and drinking chocolate Shakeology
*I am also going to start taking fencing lessons/class
*And I'm utilizing the fitness center at my current apartment complex :)

Do you like my pink hair? I am practicing for when I'm a rockstar ;) 

If you're on a fitness journey too, I would love to connect with you! I'm all for encouragement and accountability. Check out my contact page :)


xoxo, Alexandra Anne

New Beginnings (Ooh, Is That Too Cheesy?)

Ciao, blog world! I've missed you! Now that summer break is approaching I seriously will be committing more time to writing here. I will especially be committed because of all the new things in my life I want to share with you! Phew, it's been a crazy year and it's only April!

I got engaged February 28th

I joined a FANTASTIC company in Jamberry the same day!

I was in an opera at my university (Mozart's The Magic Flute)

I've joined as a coach for Beachbody and will be starting my 21 Day Fix very soon!

I'm going to Europe for a week in June!

Sooooo many of my friends are getting married, and so am I :) so I guess I need to learn how to plan a wedding. I am sure I will be blogging about that journey.

I'm so excited for my fitness journey as a coach and as prep for my upcoming marriage (I want to be a healthy and fit wife!). My fiance is SO encouraging and does a lot of the healthy eating with me! (He also fences regularly, which is just plain hot; if we still dueled nowadays, he would kick butt). We have a phrase to get us through: #committedtothesexy ;)

Showing off my Jamberry nails, my drink of choice, and my gorgeous diamond!

And of course I'm excited for my journey to Europe for the 3rd time! Our university choir will be going to Vienna, Prague, and Budapest! Many many pictures to come ;)

I'm loving Jamberry, and feel wrong when I have naked nails haha. I never used to do my nails (I suck at polish, and it always smudges and chips the day after or DAY OF!) but now I'm hooked. And I love the friendships I've made through this journey of business! It's so much more than that, but it also helps me pay my bills. Crazy stuff.

Oh oh and in May I'm going to see Nightwish (right??) and one of my favorite bands EVER, Sabaton!!! Nashville, we're coming for you!!! (Who knew that this opera chick would love metal? Yeah, it's wonderful) Back in October the man and I saw Sabaton and absolutely loved their show (we already loved their music, turns out they're fantastic performers live too!) so we had to go find them again!

Total fangirl for their lead singer, Joakim <3 <3 <3

Hopefully in June I can go see Lindsey Stirling for the second time; she's truly amazing!! As a musician myself, going to live concerts is very important to me and keeps me going. I feel that we should support these artists who have given their everything for us to enjoy! Music is love. Seriously. Go see a concert. (or come to one of mine ;) )


Have I mentioned how much I love being engaged? It's the best. I have the best man in the world as my fiance and I have a gorgeous ring! So so happy!

So much excitement going on!
Time to study for finals, catch up on blogs, and get back to my journey of life!

xoxo,
Alexandra Anne

I'm a Business Lady!

Aloha Blog World! I have missed you!!

Life is so crazy right now, I'm busy in school, I'm in the opera, I'm starting my own business endeavors, and oh yeah I GOT ENGAGED. :) I'm SUPER excited about this year and all the new awesome things that are happening for me!!

The business endeavor you may have seen on my instagram (AlexandraAnne27): I am now an independent consultant for Jamberry Nail Wraps!! They are AWESOME and I am SO addicted. Did you know about these? I didn't!! But now I'm selling them and getting friends to host facebook parties so that they can earn FREE jamberry wraps :) (Yeah, free stuff is awesome, and most of my wraps I've earned for free or came in my consultant kit!)

I definitely want to use my blog as a platform for sales, so forgive me if I ever sound overly zealous; I am legit excited about this! (I'm gonna post a lot of pictures so you can see what it's all about!)

And I made my website name match my blog name, so you can very easily find me :)

As for my engagement (YAY!) I will have to do an entire post on that once we get our engagement pics taken next weekend :) I'm so very in love and VERY excited. More details soon!

So for now, JAMBERRY AWESOMENESS!! (Some pics are mine and some are my friends', they're so fantastic!)

If you would like to order from me, please visit my website! http://chandelier27.jamberrynails.net/


I'll try to post more often! Love to you all!!!

-Alexandra Anne


ps. Bloggers! I am looking to host a blogger facebook party for jamberry; contact me for more info if you are interested!! <3